Celtic Lyrics Corner > Compilations > Scotland The Real > Cànan Nan Gàidheal

   
Scotland The Real Cànan Nan Gàidheal
   
Credits: Murdo MacFarlane; arranged by Billy Jackson
   
Appears On: Scotland The Real (compilation)
   
Language: Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic)
   
Other Versions: "Canan Nan Gaidheal" by Gaelic Women on the Ar Cànan 'S Ar Ceòl compilation
"Canan Nan Gaidheal" on Ishbel MacAskill's album Essentially Ishbel
"Cànan Nan Gaidheal" on Tannas' album Oighreachd
   

Lyrics: English Translation:
   
Cha b'e sneachda 's an reòthadh bho thuath It was not the snow and the frost from the north
Cha b'e 'n crannadh geur fuar bho 'n ear It was not the sharp, cold blasts from the east
Cha b'e 'n t-uisge 's a'ghaillionn bho 'n iar It was not the rain and the storms from the west
Ach an galair a bhlian bho 'n deas But the disease from the south that has starved
Blàth, duilleach, stoc, agus freumh The bloom, foliage, stalk and root
Cànan mo threubh 's mo shluaidh Of the language of my race and my people
   
Sèist: Chorus (after each verse):
Thig thugainn, thig cò'ruim gu siar Come with us, come with me to the west
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nam Féinn Until we hear the language of the Feín
Thig thugainn, thig cò'ruim gu siar Come with us, come with me to the west
Gus an cluinn sinn ann cànan nan Gàidheal Until we hear the language of the Gael
   
Nuair chithear fear-fèilidh'sa ghleann When a kilted man was seen in the glen
Bu chinnteach gur Gàidhlig a' chainnt It was certain that Gaelic was his language
Nuair a spion iad a threumh as an fhonn But they have torn his roots from the ground
'N àite Gàidhlig tha cànan a ghoill In place of Gaelic is the Lowlander's language
'S a Ghaidhealtachd creadhal-nan-sonn And the Highlands, cradle of heroes
'S tìr "Mhajors" is "Cholonels" 'n diugh innt' Today is the land of majors and colonels
   
"Thoir a nuas dhuinn na coinnleirean òr "Bring us down the golden candlesticks
'S annt caraibh na coinnlean geal cèir And place in them candles of white wax
Lasaibh suas iad an seòmair a'bhròin Light them in the chamber of sorrow
Tìgh-aire seann chànan a' Ghàidheil" The wake-house of the Gael's old language"
'Se siud o chionn fhad' thuirt an nàmh That's what the enemy has long been saying
Ach fhathast tha beò cànan a' Gàidheal But the language of the Gael still lives
   
Ged theich i le beath' às na glinn Although she escaped with her life from the glens
Ged na cluinnear a-nis muigh i's an Dùn Although she's not heard in the castle
O Dhùthaich MhicAoidh, fada tuath From Mackay's county in the far north
Gu an ruig thu Druim-Uachdar nam bò As far as Drumochter of the cattle
Gidheadh, anns na n-Eileanan Siar Nevertheless in the Western Isles
'Si fhathast ann ciad chàinnt an t'sloigh She is still the mother tongue of the people